When Ireland broke San Marino hearts

With just three minutes left on the clock in a Euro 2008 qualifier in early 2007, Ireland were 1-0 up. Then a terrible defensive mix-up between Irish goalkeeper Wayne Henderson and his centre backs allowed midfielder Michele Marani to gleefully roll the loose ball into the now unguarded Irish net. A comedy goal, but far from a laughing matter for the Irish who were now staring down the barrel of their most humiliating result.

World Cup Qualifier: Gibraltar 0-6 Belgium

10th October 2016
World Cup Qualifier
Estadio do Algarve, Faro, Portugal

Gibraltar 0-6 Belgium

It was a record-breaking night in Faro on Monday, but sadly not for any giant-killing reasons. Belgium’s Christian Benteke scored the fastest ever World Cup qualifying goal after only 7 seconds in what was a nightmare start for Gibraltar’s debutant goalkeeper Deren Ibrahim.

Benteke’s strike removed the one from San Marino’s Davide Gualtieri against England in 1993 from the record books – a fact that most England fans will no doubt be eternally grateful for.

World Cup Qualifying: Estonia 4-0 Gibraltar

7th October 2016
World Cup Qualifier
A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia

Estonia 4-0 Gibraltar

It was a tale of endeavour and ultimate frustration in Tallinn, as Gibraltar enjoyed a decent first half before succumbing in the second. A match that had begun with hopes of grabbing a first ever competitive point sadly ended with disappointing defeat, and by more goals than Gibraltar’s efforts really deserved.

World Cup Qualifying: Estonia v. Gibraltar

7th October 2016
World Cuo Qualifier
A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, Estonia

Estonia v. Gibraltar

Gibraltar’s first match as a member of the Worst in the World gang comes against an opposition they have actually enjoyed a degree of success against in the none too distant past.

Estonia will host our intrepid men from the Rock on Friday in Match Day Two of European World Cup qualifying, and for Gibraltar the trip to Tallinn will evoke memories of one of the finest nights in their short international football history.

Gibraltar’s Man With The Plan: Jeff Wood

Gibraltar may be one of Europe’s smallest, and newest, football nations, and home to just 33,000 people, but they are doing what they can to achieve as much as possible within their means.

That doesn’t mean chasing trophies or even qualification, but it does mean putting the structures and people in place to make the very best fist of things they can.

When Gibraltar began their first ever qualifying campaign, for Euro 2016, they had local man Allen Bula in charge. He was a charismatic, enthusiastic, and ambitious coach and he successfully steered the newly affiliated national team to some impressive early results – albeit in friendly matches rather than the competitive qualifiers.

Gibraltar’s Battle for International Recognition

After years of struggle, several applications, and in spite of repeated opposition, Gibraltar finally achieved their dream of becoming a FIFA member in May this year. It had taken a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling to finally see the team from the Rock admitted to global football’s family, but their long journey finally came to the end that the Gibraltar FA had been dreaming of for so long.